Three years since Taunton brothers Shawn and Kevin Vargas were murdered, family and friends gather for a commemorative vigil

Friday

Feb 25, 2011 at 12:01 AMFeb 25, 2011 at 4:23 PM

Through tears and pangs of sadness, nearly 50 people met Thursday night to share thoughts and memories about brothers Shawn and Kevin Vargas.

Marc Larocque

Through tears and pangs of sadness, nearly 50 people met Thursday night to share thoughts and memories about brothers Shawn and Kevin Vargas.

The crowd gathered in a small park on East Water Street after the sun went down, lit candles and said prayers on the third anniversary of the shooting deaths of the Vargas brothers.

“We all miss them,” said Steve Gravel, who grew up with the victims and knew them for 10 years. “Kevin was the best father ever. And Shawn never got to see his baby daughter. They were little kids to men, then just gone.”

Tina Vargas, the victims’ mother, started the vigil by reading a poem called “Broken Chain,” which was penned by a family friend.

“We little knew that morning that God was going to call your names,” Vargas recited before starting to cry. “In life we loved you dearly and in death we do the same. It broke our hearts to lose you. You did not go alone, for part of us went with you, the day God took you home.”

Shawn and Kevin Vargas were murdered on a Sunday afternoon — Feb. 24, 2008 — in their studio apartment. Shawn was 21 and Kevin was 23.

According to authorities, there have been no arrests in connection with the murders.

Many friends of Shawn and Kevin expressed their frustration with the investigation at the vigil. Some said the detectives on the case need to pursue leads more vigorously.

According to the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office, the investigation has been “very active” during the past six months.

“There hasn’t’ been a year that has gone by since we haven’t gotten any leads or new information,” said BCDA spokesman Gregg Miliote. “There is a state trooper assigned to our office who is determined to solve this case. ... I can tell you from conversations with this trooper, he is actively pursuing leads as they come along.”

Miliote also pointed out that there is a resource problem for district attorneys in Massachusetts. In the past 2 1/2 years, he said, 10.5 percent was cut from the budgets of district attorneys.Nevertheless, family and friends remain hopeful that the murders will be solved.

Before the vigil ended, Tina Vargas released a bunch of balloons into the air as a tribute to the lives of her sons. She said she wishes this next year will bring justice.

“Hopefully, next year we will be letting off doves,” Vargas said. “Because once the people who are responsible are caught, I swear we are going to let off doves. So let’s just pray that that happens.”

There is currently a $10,000 reward for anyone who comes forward with information that leads to an arrest or arrests in the case. For more information about the reward or to submit a tip, email vargasreward@hotmail.com.

Anonymous tips can also be sent to the district attorney’s Text-A-Tip system. Text-A-Tip can be accessed at www.tipsubmit.com, or through SMS messaging to C-R-I-M-E-S (274637) using the key word “Call50.”